Grow Up, America

While the European entertainment industry treats its adult audience like, well, adults, making challenging films and TV shows about human relationships, Hollywood continues to churn out simplistic, formulaic, feel-good fare about men and women. Even PBS's long-running Masterpiece Theatre, which relies on products from the UK, censors images of breasts and bums and language the network deems offensive to American ears. (Shh, don't wake the children!)

Is it any wonder that when it comes to the emotional and sexual terrain (a BIG part of the human condition), American culture remains trapped in a puerile state?

I was thinking of this unpleasant subject yet again, while enjoying French director Olivier Assayas's wonderful, talky 2019 film, Non-Fiction. Yes, I've been searching out the work of Assayas (turns out he also directed another of my favorites, Clouds of Sils Maria, starring Juliette Binoche) and actor Vincent Macaigne since they entertained me with the TV series Irma Vep.

Non-Fiction (available on demand) hits the spot. Not only does it star both Binoche and Macaigne, it features LOTS of smart talk about the dilemmas of book publishing in the digital age, the dumbed-down demands of entertainment culture, progressive politics in the age of social media narcissism -- yes, and love, lust and adultery.

Non-Fiction is a comedy, so there are plenty of laughs along the way. But it's also filled with provocative social commentary. And it's loaded with dialogue, so Assayas assumes a level of patience and maturity in his audience. What a relief!

What comes close to this sophistication in Hollywood films lately? Instead we're treated to predictable rom-coms and greeting card-like lessons about love and life. God spare me any more of this dreck.

Or am I missing something? Are there American films about love and sex that I SHOULD be watching?

Binoche and Macaigne in Non-Fiction